11.28.2011

swimming upstream

"I now understand why many people in Seattle don’t dress for the rain or
use umbrellas. Two reasons. One, what’s the point. Two, denial. With
the amount of rain that pours down why not just transcend the chronic
dampness of street and spirit by not acknowledging it at all. Stubborn
acceptance. It’s not sad to be wet. Then, on top of that denial, let's
pour cups and cups of the strongest coffee in the world into that spirit
until it hums and sings the rain away. The vibrations buzzing off the
bodies of people in Seattle actually repel water. Genius. When the
humming and singing is done, how about some fancy artisanal regional
beer or ale or cider—maybe something thick and pulpy—something to take
the edge off the caffeinated rain repression.

I think everyone in Seattle is swimming upstream to spawn and die on
some level. You definitely need coffee for that. I love it up there. I
would live there. Maybe someday I will and when I do I will have a very
long beard."